The Rite of Passage Ride, why we are Crankees

We did it! This past Saturday we had the annual rite of passage, the grueling Westpoint/ Bear Mountain Ride.
The course was about 65 miles and over 6,000 ft of climbing- yes, truth be told, I love this Ride!

The day started early, very early, when I rose at 3:30 am, we had scheduled a 5am departure from Brooklyn. Our SAG support (husband and step-daughter) had the car packed (with the exception of the cold items) and were going to meet us halfway in the course with fuel and hydrating liquids. The temperatures were expected to reach 100 degrees.

The team met in the parking lot just under Perkins memorial drive, and we began to ride at 7am. There were 10 of us.  Like most rides that are coordinated by our couch Lewis, the ride began with a nice long climb, up bear mt. over the course of the first 36 miles (our designated meeting point at Mr. Cone) there were many a hills;  there was another climb waiting around every corner, at the bottom of every hill, when you think it was the top of a hill, if you missed a turn,.. you get it, it was all about the climb.

Mr Cone brought us a cuddly dog (Otis) a loving husband and step-daughter and some good food and drink (PB&J, bagels, bananas, Gatorade, COLD water) and some tri food (boiled potatoes?)
It was great to have the support, it was hot, and we were going through a lot of fluid and the food was able to provide us energy to continue on for the next- most grueling - part of the ride.

The back half of the ride brought us a few incidents, flat tires, wobbling falls caused by dropping a chain, low blood sugars, separation from the group, lost riders and tired riders. These things happen, we learn from these things, we grow from these and we ride to prevent these in the future.

The last 7-10 miles is the hardest, not only because we were tired but because you have come down to sea level and are now headed back up to the top of the mountain, it is a long climb, a steep climb but determined as we were, look up, look forward and ride. Those last few miles brought thunder showers that were refreshing and invigorating (always keep phone, meter, and cash in a zip-lock bag).  You look ahead and think, just another turn I will be to the top, just another one and another one, and you just keep going. Out of the 10, 7 made it to the peak- that is a pretty great accomplishment and I am proud of everyone who rode.

I feel this ride was a perfect example of why we ride and how we can parallel this to T1D, the uncontrollable elements (in this case heat, rain) the controllable elements (how we prepare ourselves for everyday in this case training) the known and the unknown, the strength we have to overcome challenge and the unity we have as a team to work together.


I am very excited to ride this Saturday with my team, the New York Crankees, in Vermont- Ride to Cure Diabetes!

The Forth of July- Tribute to my mama

Yesterday was a special day, like every year on the forth of July, it was my mama's birthday. And while we couldn't be together to celebrate this year, we  know you had a great celebration! I am so thankful for all that you have done for me over the years, your adventurous spirit, your continuous desire to learn, your nurturing soul.

As I have grown up and learned much more about myself, managing Type 1 and trying my best to keep myself in control, I always think about what you must have gone through as my mom  in a time when resources and access to technology and information are not what they are today- you led the way in making sure I was taken care of at every step, and even now I can't imagine what you must have gone through knowing that your child has a condition that not only can you not cure, but that it is not understood why they were diagnosed in the first place. 

I am grateful for all that you did diligently every day since I was diagnosed over 29 years ago- you have been through so much as my mom, as a parent of someone with Type 1, I honestly can't imagine!

Next week we will Ride to Cure Type 1 Diabetes, so that moms and  future moms don't have to go through what you have gone through!

So thank you for everything that you have done, as my mom, I miss you and I love you!

Success

How do you measure success?
For some it is money, for some it is fame, for some it is comfort.

For me this year it is support. This past week we held 3 fundraisers- two in Brooklyn and one, my parents threw,  in Olympia. All of them were overly sucessfull, not only in dollars raised, but in people that came out to show support for this cause.

This support that is shown by so many  year after year help us out not only financially but emotionally, and physically, it is very humbling.

In just over a week we pack up our car, me, husband and Otis boy and head up to Vermont- it is a great drive to a beautiful place and I am excited so see old friends and meet new ones and feel the overwhelming energy that resonates at the Ride. We couldn't be more grateful for all of our success this year!

weather conditions and conditioning

The weather has not been ideal for outdoor training this week aNd husband is traveling so i am on Otis duty, so we have cut back on training and are getting ready for a fun weekend/week of fundraising.

ITs gonna be great! Wish everyone near and far could join!

With a little help from our friends- come one come all!

We are so excited to share with everyone that we have 2 great fundraisers coming up. Mark your calendars- Sunday June 24, 3pm at South- Hubby will be serving up his amazing pulled pork , drink specials and great prizes. 

and Boot camp for a Cure on Thursday June 28 at 6:30 pm, in Prospect Park, with the great Joanna Paterson

To see why I ride watch the video I made last year- here 

We hope you can join us! If not and you still want to donate- here!

The ups and downs and extremes

Some days I just can't figure it out, blood sugar wise that is. Today was one of them. It started off like a normal day, then mid morning I spiked, and no matter what I did, bolus (extra insulin) temp basal (increases the amount of insulin I get over a certain amount of time, my high blood sugar didn't want to break, until finally after work it started to go down and then I went for a Ride, and when extra insulin gets a "jump start" my blood sugar dropped. I ate and drank carbs to try to keep it steady while riding, it held up and then after Riding I am back to a sudden increase due to the extra carbs.

Not a typical day, but it is a constant cycle and I am trying to keep it level while working, training, living life.

Another day with Type 1.

Time

Lots of time, too much time has gone by since I have been here. But we have been busy, and sometimes it is difficult at the end of long days of work, training, traveling, cleaning, being wife and mom to site down and write. I want to be better at it. I think about it all the time, but as the to-do list grows the blog posting moves to the further from the top. Things that have happened.

• Went to California to see my family for brother's graduation (Masters) from USC. Stayed at Kate's in the valley, stayed on the beach. Rode bikes on mothers day, but it doesn't count as training. It counts as fun.
• Had Emma Roses' communion: a first for me (not growing up catholic) but celebrated with a party wedding style for an  Eight year old.
• Work; enjoying work more and more these days, more responsibility, more creativity, working towards good goals.
• Rode a bike, many times! Trying to get as many miles on the bike as possible.
• Went to Noah's Ride (next post)
• Working on a really exciting business project/plan with husband (more to come...)

Summer has hit us here, it is officially hot and HUMID in the NY area and hopefully I will spend some time indoors in air conditioning updating everyone on my life.

ohhh yes and there are 44 days until we go to Vermont, 46 days until I RIDE!